Textile spool

ABSTRACT

An attaching means for securely fastening the flange of a textile spool to the cylinder upon which the yarn is wound comprising a molded plastic end plug having a peripheral groove receiving a metallic annular disc with a plurality of notches spaced around its outer periphery coinciding with cooperating notches in the periphery of the plug itself. The plastic plug is inserted into the end of the cylinder and the flange attached by screws, whereupon the disc urges the screws into threading engagement with the inner wall of the cylinder, thereby securely locking the flanges onto the spool.

tlited States Patentv Inventor James Elmo Jones P.O. Box 6627, Greensboro, N.C. 27405 Appl. No. 888,775 Filed Dec. 29, 1969 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 TEXTILE SPOOL 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 242/l18.6l Int. Cl B65h 75/141 Field of Search 242/ 1 18.6,

(56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,811 9/1952 Moss 242/118.6l 2,625,343 1/1953 Foote 242/1 18.61

Primary ExaminerGe0rge F. Mautz Att0rney1-lunt, Heard & Rhodes ABSTRACT: An attaching means for securely fastening the flange of a textile spool to the cylinder upon which the yarn is wound comprising a molded plastic end plug having a peripheral groove receiving a metallic annular disc with a plurality of notches spaced around its outer periphery coinciding with cooperating notches in the periphery of the plug itself. The plastic plug is inserted into the end of the cylinder and the flange attached by screws, whereupon the disc urges the screws into threading engagement with the inner wall of the cylinder, thereby securely locking the flanges onto the spool.

TEXTILE SPOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During and after the winding operations of certain textiles having elastic memory upon spools containing end flanges, the characteristics of the yarn causes it to contract toward its initial length. Also the textile industry is constantly attempting to form larger diameter spools. As a result strong outward forces are exerted axially of the spool tending to cause its flanges to separate, destroying finished yarn packages and sometimes damaging the yarn on the spool to the extent that it must be discarded. Existing spools designed to overcome this problem are complicated and expensive, because they generally consist of an assortment of specially designed parts which must be carefully and laboriously assembled. For example, spools must either be fabricated with the cylinder or barrel having bosses or lugs cast integrally therewith as shown by the U.S. Pat. to Clinton No. 2,225,551, or else they must be constructed with metallic end plugs which are relatively expensive and normally require the fabrication and assembly of bushings formed of brass or some other suitable material to provide a suitable contact with a spindle.

While less expensive, molded plastic end plugs have been developed, which eliminate the requirement of a separate bushing, it is undesirable to attach the flange by means of screws held directly in the plastic as shown by the U.S. Fat. to Foote No. 2,625,343. In such cases the locking screws rout themselves from threading engagement with the plastic plug thereby permitting the end flanges to separate from the bobbin barrel.

SUMMARY The present invention, on the other hand, is adapted to overcome the problems discussed in the preceding paragraphs by employing a plastic end plug, and yet providing a metal to metal threading engagement of the screws to secure the flanges to the cylinder. The metal to metal threading engagement is accomplished by an annular disc having a plurality of notches spaced around its outer periphery to bear against and urge a locking means, preferably comprising a self-tapping screw, into threading engagement with the metallic inner surface of the cylinder. The annular disc is held into place against the locking means by an end plug which has been provided with a peripheral groove to receive the disc and with notches coinciding with the notches of the annular disc. The locking means is first inserted through holes in the flange corresponding to the coinciding notches of the disc and the plug and, upon encountering the notched disc, is urged into threading engagement with the inner surface of the metallic cylinder resulting in a secure, locking engagement of the flange to the cylinder.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved means for securing the end flanges to the barrel of a textile spool, and, more particularly, to provide an inexpensive molded end plug eliminating a separate spindle bushing and retaining the flange holding screws securely as a result of a metal to metal threading relationship.

Another object of this invention is to provide a securing means of the type described that is simple and initially inexpensive and also one that can be reused after repair and replacement of broken and worn out parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive means for reliably securing and end flanges to the barrel of a textile spool and which sufficiently withstands the axial forces exerted thereon by the textile yarn.

Additional objects of the invention will become obvious to persons skilled in the art from the detailed description and drawings that follow in which like character references refer to the same parts in the several drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one end of the spool illustrating the individual components of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view, with parts broken away for clarity, illustrating one end of a textile spool embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 3- 3 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, a textile spool embodying the features of the present invention comprises a cylindrical barrel assembly I0 having a metal inner core 11, preferably aluminum, and a suitable surface cover 12 which is adapted to receive yarn wound thereon; and an end plug 13 formed of nylon or some other suitable plastic material to which an end flange 14 is releasably, but securely attached by means of a plurality of locking members such as self-tapping screws 16. It will be necessary to discuss only one end of the textile spool since the other end is simply a mirror image of the first.

Cylindrical barrel assembly I0 and end flange 14 are elements of common usage on conventional textile spools and thereby require no further discussion. However, it should be pointed out that inner core 11 of barrel assembly 10 comprises a metal which is of suitable hardness to threadably receive self-tapping screws 16. Also, flange 14 should be provided with countersunk holes 21 to receive the heads of self-tapping screws 16.

End plug 13 is preferably molded from glass-filled nylon or some other suitable plastic material and includes an axial, spindle-receiving passageway 20 and a plurality of arcuately spaced notches 17 extending longitudinally along the outer periphery 23 of the plug. The plastic end plug 13 eliminates the need of a conventional separate bushing which is generally assembled within passageway 20 and engages a spindle in the mounted position. A peripheral groove 18 extends circumferentially around end plug 13 at a point approximately midway between the ends of the plug and receives annular disc 15.

Annular disc 15 is adapted to be received within peripheral groove 18 of end plug 13 and includes a plurality of arcuately spaced notches 19 around its periphery corresponding to notches 17 in end plug 13. In its assembled position (FIG. 2), the notches 17 of end plug 13 and barrel 10 form a plurality of passageways 22 therebetween for receiving self-tapping screws 16. The disc 15 may be formed of a plurality of arcuate sections as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and is of sufficient hardness to urge screws 16 into threading engagement with the inner core 11 of barrel 10. It should be noted that in the preferred form, the threads of screws 16 do not cut into the outer edge of disc 15, rather the disc is of such thickness that successive threads of the screws surround the edges of the disc so that the screws are threaded onto the disc rather than into its edges. Annular disc 15 is preferably washer shaped as shown in FIG. 1, however could be formed in other suitable configurations such as a ring with rounded bearing edges or as a plurality of individual bearing inserts, there being one insert for each notch 17.

In the practice of this invention, and with reference to FIGS. 1-3, annular disc 15 is inserted into peripheral groove 18 of end plug 13, aligning the corresponding notches 19 of disc 15 with those of plug 13 preparatory to inserting plug 13 into one end of barrel 1.0. The width of peripheral groove 18 and the thickness of disc 15 are preferably of such dimensions that disc 15 is pressed into and frictionally held in groove 18 to maintain proper alignment of the corresponding notches l7 and 19. The outer diameter of end plug 13 is slightly larger than the inside diameter of barrel I0 and the two are press fit together so that the plug is held in position in the end of the barrel in the assembled position. A second plug 13 is then prepared and similarly assembled in the opposite end of barrel 10.

The final step in the assembly of the textile spool according to the present invention is to place flange 14 over the end of barrel 10 with mounting holes 21 in alignment with the passageways 22 formed by notches 17 and barrel l0 and inserting self-tapping screws 16. As the self-tapping screws 16 enter passageways 22 they are threaded over the edge of annular disc 15 which in turn urges the opposite side of the screws into threading engagement with inner surface of core 11 of the barrel assembly (FIGS. 2 and 3), thus providing a positive, metal-to-metal threading relationship between the barrel l0 and the screws 16. Annular disc 15 resists the inward force of self-tapping screws 16 into the softer plastic material of plug 13 and prevents routing of the plastic during assembly, which was found to be a disadvantage of previous plastic plugs.

It should be pointed out that plug 13 and disc 15 are provided with a larger number of notches, l7 and 19 respectively, than necessary for the attachment of flange 14. The additional notches provide a second group of unused notches for reassembly of the textile spool after successive disassemblies for repair and replacement of broken and worn parts have caused the walls surrounding the original passageways 22 to lose their ability to form a secure lock with self-tapping screws 16.

When this occurs, the parts are simply assembled utilizing an unused set of notches, thereby considerably increasing the useful life of the spool.

There is thus shown and described an improved means for securely attaching the flange of a textile spool to the winding barrel using a plastic end plug, and yet overcoming the normal and expected disadvantages of the plastic plug.

While a preferred adaptation of this invention has been illustrated and described in the preceding specification, it is obvious that various modifications could be achieved without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile spool of the type having a cylindrical barrel with a metallic inner surface and a flange attached to each end thereof, an improved means for attaching each of said flanges to said barrel comprising:

a. an end plug formed of a plastic material andpositioned in one end of said barrel, the periphery of said end plug including a plurality of arcuately spaced, longitudinally extending notches, said notches and said barrel forming a plurality of passageways therebetween;

b. a locking means axially inserted into said passageways and connecting said flange and said barrel; and

c. means on said end plug for urging said locking means into locking engagement with said barrel.

2. The textile spool according to claim 1 wherein said means on said end plug for urging said locking means into engagement with said barrel includes a metal insert in the end plug.

3. The textile spool according to claim 1 wherein said end plug includes a peripheral groove therearound, said means for urging said locking means into engagement with said barrel includes an annular, metallic ring received in said groove and including a plurality of notches around the outer edge thereof, said notches being aligned with the notches in said plug, said ring engaging said locking means in the assembled position and urging said locking means into engagement with said barrel.

4. The textile spool according to claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises self-tapping screws, said ring being of such thickness as to fit between successive threads of said screws, whereby said screws are threaded onto said ring on one side and into the barrel on the other.

5. In a textile spool of the type having a cylindrical barrel with a metallic inner surface and a flange attached to each end thereof, an improved means for attaching each of said flanges to said barrel comprising: a. an end plug formed of plastic material and positioned in one end of said barrel; b. at least one bearing member held by said plug in spatial relationship to the inner surface of said barrel; and c. at least one locking member axially inserted through said flange and positioned between said bearing member and said inner surface, said locking member being in engagement with said bearing member and urged by said bearing member into locking engagement with said inner surface. 

1. In a textile spool of the type having a cylindrical barrel with a metallic inner surface and a flange attached to each end thereof, an improved means for attaching each of said flanges to said barrel comprising: a. an end plug formed of a plastic material and positioned in one end of said barrel, the periphery of said end plug including a plurality of arcuately spaced, longitudinally extending notches, said notches and said barrel forming a plurality of passageways therebetween; b. a locking means axially inserted into said passageways and connecting said flange and said barrel; and c. means on said end plug for urging said locking means into locking engagement with said barrel.
 2. The textile spool according to claim 1 wherein said means on said end plug for urging said locking means into engagement with said barrel includes a metal insert in the end plug.
 3. The textile spool according to claim 1 wherein said end plug includes a peripheral groove therearound, said means for urging said locking means into engagement with said barrel includes an annular, metallic ring received in said groove and including a plurality of notches around the outer edge thereof, said notches being aligned with the notches in said plug, said rinG engaging said locking means in the assembled position and urging said locking means into engagement with said barrel.
 4. The textile spool according to claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises self-tapping screws, said ring being of such thickness as to fit between successive threads of said screws, whereby said screws are threaded onto said ring on one side and into the barrel on the other.
 5. In a textile spool of the type having a cylindrical barrel with a metallic inner surface and a flange attached to each end thereof, an improved means for attaching each of said flanges to said barrel comprising: a. an end plug formed of plastic material and positioned in one end of said barrel; b. at least one bearing member held by said plug in spatial relationship to the inner surface of said barrel; and c. at least one locking member axially inserted through said flange and positioned between said bearing member and said inner surface, said locking member being in engagement with said bearing member and urged by said bearing member into locking engagement with said inner surface. 